Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao Part 3

Badlaav

"Suniye ji, yeh khana de hi aaiye na... bhabhiji aur bhaisahab ne theek se khaya tak nahi... bartan ke bahane yeh kuch khana bheja tha unke liye lekin aap wapas le aaye... bhabhiji ko bhuke pet kaise neend aayegi?" Bela could not let the little concern remain quiet in her heart.

Though she had been a part of the whole pretence put up by children, a small part of her still felt bad for letting bhabhiji go without food.

"Bela, tumne shayad Sameer ki baat theek se suni nahi... jab usne bhabhiji ko kaha ki saare din ki thakaan aadhi roti se mit sakti hai." Anand was deep in thought.

Bela narrowed her eyes, "Suni thi, par samajh nahi aayi... aisa kyon kaha usne? Aadhi roti se na toh thakaan mitegi na pet bharega."

Anand let out a long exhale, "Yeh zaroor hua hoga Naina ke saath... maine khud dekha toh nahi par agar Naina ne Sameer ko sab bataya hai toh aisa kuch bhabhiji ne kiya hoga jiski wajah se Sameer ne yeh kadam uthaya... uss bachhi ne humse kabhi nahi kaha par Sameer ne zaroor uske dard ko mehsoos kiya hoga... aur apne pyar se usne woh dard kheech liya bahar... mujhe yaad hi nahi maine Naina ko kabhi dhang se khana khate dekha ho... sabse pehle kha ke woh apni plate rakh deti thi... ab lagta hai shayad bhabhiji usse rokti thi."

Bela lowered her eyes, "Bhabhiji kabhi Naina ko bhar pet khane hi kahan deti thi... Preeti ko kabhi tokti toh Preeti baad mein chupke se kitchen se le leti thi... par Naina itni seedhi thi ki usne kabhi aisa bhi nahi kiya... aur bhabhiji saara din yahin baithi rehti thi toh main bhi chupa ke zyada kuch nahi de paati thi Naina ko... aadhi roti ka kya kissa hai yeh toh mujhe bhi nahi pata lekin mujhe isme koi hairani nahi hai... meri bachhi pata nahi kitni baar bhooki school gayi hai ya bhooke pet soyi hai."

Anand shook his head in remorse, "Iss ghar mein Naina ke saath bohot atyachaar hua hai... chahkar bhi hum har baar uska paksh nahi le paaye... sach kahun toh mujhe uske Mumbai jaane ki sabse zyada khushi isliye thi ki woh pinjare se baahar nikal payegi... apne pankh phaila sakegi... bina kisi rok tok ke udaan bharne ke kabil ban sakegi."

Bela smiled in contentment, "Mumbai ne Naina ki zindagi hi badal di... udaan bharne ke saath saath usse ek itna achha humsafar mil gaya... agar koi kehta ki Sameer jaise ladke hote hain iss duniya mein toh main kabhi yakeen nahi karti... lekin ab apni aankhon se dekha hai... Naina ke jeevan mein har achhe badlaav ka kaaran Sameer hai."

The guilt on Anand's face was replaced by gratification, "Sameer waqai bohot achha ladka hai... aaj usne jo bhi kiya, usmein ek pal ke liye bhi koi badtameezi nahi dikhai di... maana woh log humse bade hain lekin Bela, agar bade apna badappan galat tareeke se jataane lagte hain toh usse galat kuch nahi ho sakta... kasoor hamara bhi hai... humne unki har baat sar jhukakar maani hai... yeh aadar nahi kamzori hai... galat ka saath dene wala bhi ek hadd tak unke jitna hi galat hota hai."

Bela held her husband's hand, "Aap aisa kyon sochte hain ji, aapne khud toh kabhi bachhon pe zyadati nahi ki na... aur bataiye, hum kar bhi kya sakte the... aakhir ghar mein sabse chote hain... bhaisahab aur bhabhiji ke aage bolne ki himmat kahan se laate?"

"Theek keh rahi ho, Bela... jab bhi kabhi unki pasand ke khilaaf kuch bhi karna chaha unhone rishta tod lene ki dhamki de di... kaha ki bhool jaun mera koi bada bhai hai... iss darr se har baar unki baat maan li... sirf Naina ki shaadi mein unke saamne bola tha main... apni beti ki khushi ko unke purane adarshon ki bali nahi chadhne dena chahta tha... aur jhooth nahi kahunga, Phulla bua ke saath ne himmat di thi."

Bela smiled, "Jaanti hun, lekin aap khud bhi kam himmat wale nahi hain... Naina ki har kamyaabi ke peeche aapka bharosa aur protsahan tha... aapne sabhi bachhon ko hamesha aage badhna sikhaya hai... mujhe yakeen hai jo hum log nahi kar paaye, woh yeh bachhe mil ke kar lenge... dekha nahi aaj charon kaise bina ghabraye ek doosre ke liye khade ho gaye... ek pal ko bhi aisa nahi laga ki Pandit abhi abhi hamare parivaar ka hissa bana hai."